Winding device for a window blind

ABSTRACT

A winding device includes a seat unit, a gear wheel unit, and a winding rod unit. The seat unit includes a tube seat that has an open end and that defines an accommodating space, and a front cover that covers the open end of the tube seat. The tube seat has a side wall, a tube wall, and a sleeving axle extending horizontally from the side wall and spaced apart from the tube wall. The gear wheel unit includes a vertical gear wheel component having a vertical wheel portion and a vertical axle portion, and a horizontal gear wheel component having a horizontal wheel portion and a sleeving tube portion. A top portion of the winding rod unit is connected to the vertical axle portion. The winding rod unit may be manipulated to rotate the vertical gear wheel component, such that the horizontal gear wheel component is driven to rotate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a winding device, more particularly to a winding device for a window blind.

2. Description of the Related Art

Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional window blind includes a roller 11, a curtain cloth 12 extending downwardly from the roller 11, and a ring chain (or cord) 13 disposed on an end portion of the roller 11 and extending downwardly.

A user can pull the ring chain 13 to rotate the roller 11, such that the curtain cloth 12 can be wound upwardly or extended downwardly.

However, it is possible for the ring chain 13 to wrap around a child's neck if the child sticks his/her head in the loop formed by the ring chain, thereby causing strangling injury. Therefore, there is a need for a winding device for a window blind that solves this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a winding device which winds or unwinds a curtain cloth without the use of a chain or cord.

Accordingly, a winding device of the present invention comprises a seat unit, a gear wheel unit, and a winding rod unit.

The seat unit includes a tube seat that has an'open end and defines an accommodating space, and a front cover that covers the open end of the tube seat. The tube seat has a side wall, a tube wall that extends horizontally from a periphery of the side wall, and a sleeving axle that extends horizontally from the side wall and that is spaced apart from the tube wall.

The gear wheel unit includes a vertical gear wheel component and a horizontal gear wheel component.

The vertical gearwheel component has a vertical wheel portion rotatable about a vertical axis of the vertical gear wheel component and that is disposed in the accommodating space, and a vertical axle portion that extends downwardly through the tube seat from a center portion of the vertical wheel portion. The vertical wheel portion includes a plurality of first gears.

The horizontal gear wheel component is sleeved on the sleeving axle, and has a horizontal wheel portion driven by the vertical wheel portion so as to rotate about a horizontal axis of the horizontal gear wheel component, and a sleeving tube portion that extends through the front cover from the horizontal wheel portion and rotates about the horizontal axis with the horizontal wheel portion. The horizontal wheel portion includes a plurality of second gears meshed with the first gears of the vertical wheel portion.

A top portion of the winding rod unit is connected to the vertical axle portion of the vertical gear wheel component. The winding rod unit may be manipulated to rotate the vertical gear wheel component, such that the horizontal gear wheel component is driven to rotate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional winding device;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a winding device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the winding device in a state applied to a window blind;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the winding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the winding device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary exploded sectional view of the winding device of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but illustrating how a winding rod unit 5 may be angled to facilitate use thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, a preferred embodiment of a winding device for a window blind according to the present invention is mounted to a horizontal frame 21, and is used for driving a winding rod 22 such that a curtain cloth 23 can be wound upwardly or can be extended downwardly. The winding device comprises a seat unit 3 disposed on the horizontal frame 21, a gear wheel unit 4 disposed on the seat unit 3, and a winding rod unit 5 for rotating the gear wheel unit 4.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, and 4, the seat unit 3 includes a tube seat 31 and a front cover 32. The tube seat 31 is mounted to the horizontal frame 21, has an open end and defines an accommodating space 311. The front cover 32 covers the open end of the tube seat 31. The tube seat 31 has a side wall 312, a tube wall 313 that extends horizontally from a periphery of the side wall 312, an inserting portion 314 that extends downwardly from a bottom portion of the tube wall 313 and that defines a hollow space that is in spatial communication with the accommodating space 311, and a sleeving axle 315 that extends horizontally from the side wall 312 and that is spaced apart from the tube wall 313.

An end portion of the sleeving axle 315 of the seat unit 3 extends through the front cover 32 of the seat unit 3, and has at least two pinching arms 316 that are spaced apart from each other (vertically spaced apart from each in this embodiment). An outer surface of each pinching arm 316 is formed with a depression 318 to thereby form a pair of horizontally opposing shoulders 3171 on the outer surface of the pinching arm 316. The outer surface of an extreme end of each of the pinching arms 316 is slanted to thereby form a slanted surface 317.

Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, the gear wheel unit includes a vertical gear wheel component 41, a horizontal gear wheel component 42, a sleeving tube 43, a plurality of sliding rings 44, and a connecting tube 45.

The vertical gear wheel component 41 has a vertical wheel portion 411 and a vertical axle portion 414. The vertical wheel portion 411 is rotatable about a vertical axis of the vertical gear wheel component 41, and is disposed in the accommodating space 311. The vertical axle portion 414 extends downwardly through the inserting portion 314 of the tube seat 31 from a center portion of the vertical wheel portion 411.

The vertical wheel portion 411 of the gearwheel unit 4 includes a plurality of first gears 4111. A bottom end of the vertical axle portion 414 is formed with a long slot 415. The sleeving tube 43 of the gear wheel unit 4 is movably sleeved on the vertical axle portion 414, and may be sleeved over the long slot 415.

The horizontal gear wheel component 42 is sleeved on the sleeving axle 315, and has a horizontal wheel portion 421 driven by the vertical wheel portion 411 so as to rotate about a horizontal axis of the horizontal gear wheel component 42, and a sleeving tube portion 424 that extends through the front cover 32 from the horizontal wheel portion 421 and rotates about the horizontal axis with the horizontal wheel portion 421.

The horizontal wheel portion 421 of the horizontal gear wheel component 42 includes a plurality of second gears 4211 meshed with the first gears 4111 of the vertical wheel portion 411.

In this embodiment, the vertical wheel portion 411 of the vertical gear wheel component 41 and the horizontal wheel portion 421 of the horizontal gear wheel component 42 are bevel gears.

The sleeving tube portion 424 of the horizontal gear wheel component 42 extends through the front cover 32 (as described above) so as to extend into the connecting tube 45. The connecting tube 45 is formed with a ring protrusion 451 protruding radially inwardly from an inner surface of the connecting tube 45. When the connecting tube 45 is sleeved on the sleeving tube portion 424 of the horizontal gear wheel component 42, the ring protrusion 451 is received in the depressions 318 to thereby abut against the shoulders 3171 of each of the pinching arms 316, such that the connecting tube 45 is secured on the sleeving tube portion 424. In some embodiments, the ring protrusion 451 of the connecting tube 45 is tightly interposed between the shoulders 3171 of the pinching arms 316 and an end of the sleeving tube portion 424.

In some embodiments, an outer diameter of the connecting tube 45 decreases in a direction away from the horizontal wheel portion 421 of the horizontal gear wheel component 42. The connecting tube 45 is connected to the winding rod 22 of the window blind as shown in FIG. 4.

When the gear wheel unit 4 is mounted to the seat unit 3, the first gears 4111 of the vertical wheel portion 411 are engaged with the second gears 4211 of the horizontal wheel portion 421 as the vertical gear wheel component 41 is rotated. As a result, the horizontal wheel portion 421 rotates about the horizontal axis of the horizontal gear wheel component 42. Hence, axial rotation of the sleeving tube 43 rotates the winding rod 22 to control extension of and taking up of the curtain cloth 23.

The sliding rings 44 are sleeved on the sleeving axle 315 of the seat unit 3, and are interposed between the sleeving axle 315 and the sleeving tube portion 424 of the horizontal gear wheel component 42. The sliding rings 44 are used for minimizing friction between and wear in the sleeving axle 315 and the sleeving tube portion 424.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 6, a top portion of the winding rod unit 5 is connected to the vertical axle portion 414 of the vertical gear wheel component 41. The winding rod unit 5 may be manipulated to rotate the vertical gear wheel component 41, such that the horizontal gear wheel component 42 is driven to rotate.

The winding rod unit 5 includes a hook 51, a rotating rod 52, an angling rod 53, a holding rod 54, and a sliding tube 55. The hook 51 is connected to a bottom end of the vertical axle portion 414 of the gear wheel unit 4. The rotating rod 52 is hooked onto a bottom end of the hook 51, and is able to be manipulated to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof. A top end of the angling rod 53 is pivotally connected to a bottom end of the rotating rod 52. A top end of the holding rod 54 is pivotally connected to a bottom end of the angling rod 53. The sliding tube 55 is sleeved loosely and rotatably on the rotating rod 52.

The hook 51 has an upper hook portion 511 and a lower hook portion 512. The upper hook portion 511 of the hook 51 of the winding rod unit 5 is inserted into the long slot 415 of the vertical axle portion 414. The sleeving tube 43 is sleeved on the bottom end of the vertical axle portion 414 over the long slot 415 such that the upper hook portion 511 of the hook 51 is secured in the long slot 415.

In some embodiments, a blind hole 4151 is formed in the vertical axle portion 414 of the vertical gear wheel component 41, and the upper hook portion 511 of the hook 51 is bent and inserted into the blind hole 4151.

The lower hook portion 512 hooks onto a top end of the rotating rod 52. That is, the top end of the rotating rod 52 is provided with a hole portion 521 for insertion of the lower hook portion 512 of the hook 51. A bottom end of the rotating rod 52 is provided with a ring protrusion 522. A bottom end of the sliding tube 55 abuts against the ring protrusion 522 such that the sliding tube 55 can be rotatably confined on the rotating rod 52.

The rotating rod 52, the angling rod 53, and the holding rod 54 may be angled as shown in FIG. 6. In this state, a user can hold the sliding tube 55 sleeved on the rotating rod 52 with one hand, and can hold the holding rod 54 with the other hand. The user may then rotate the holding rod 54 along a circular track. This allows for easy driving and rotating of the rotating rod 52.

Through such rotation of the rotating rod 52, the hook 51 drives and rotates the vertical axle portion 414 of the gear wheel unit 4, such that the vertical wheel portion 411 rotates the horizontal wheel portion 421 through engagement between the first gears 4111 and the second gears 4211 thereof. Ultimately, the winding rod 22 is rotated such that the curtain cloth 23 can be wound upwardly or extended downwardly.

It is noted that the winding device of the present invention drives and rotates the winding rod 22 to manipulate the curtain cloth 23 without using any chain or cord. Therefore, the winding device of the present invention can enhance safety.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A winding device for a window blind, comprising: a seat unit including a tube seat that has an open end and defines an accommodating space, and a front cover that covers said open end of said tube seat, said tube seat having a side wall, a tube wall that extends horizontally from a periphery of said side wall, and a sleeving axle that extends horizontally from said side wall and that is spaced apart from said tube wall; a gear wheel unit including a vertical gear wheel component having a vertical wheel portion rotatable about a vertical axis of said vertical gear wheel component and that is disposed in said accommodating space, and a vertical axle portion that extends downwardly through said tube seat from a center portion of said vertical wheel portion, said vertical wheel portion including a plurality of first gears, and a horizontal gear wheel component sleeved on said sleeving axle, and having a horizontal wheel portion driven by said vertical wheel portion so as to rotate about a horizontal axis of said horizontal gear wheel component, and a sleeving tube portion that extends through said front cover from said horizontal wheel portion and rotates about the horizontal axis with said horizontal wheel portion, said horizontal wheel portion including a plurality of second gears meshed with said first gears of said vertical wheel portion; and a winding rod unit a top portion of which is connected to said vertical axle portion of said vertical gear wheel component and which may be manipulated to rotate said vertical gearwheel component, such that said horizontal gear wheel component is driven to rotate.
 2. The winding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said winding rod unit includes a hook that is connected to a bottom end of said vertical axle portion of said gearwheel unit, and a rotating rod that is hooked onto a bottom end of said hook and that is able to be manipulated to rotate about a longitudinal axis thereof.
 3. The winding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said gear wheel unit further includes a sleeving tube sleeved on said vertical axle portion, said bottom end of said vertical axle portion being formed with a long slot into which said hook of said winding rod unit is inserted, said sleeving tube being sleeved on said bottom end of said vertical axle portion over said long slot such that said hook is secured in said long slot.
 4. The winding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said winding rod unit further includes an angling rod a top end of which is pivotally connected to a bottom end of said rotating rod, and a holding rod a top end of which is pivotally connected to a bottom end of said rod.
 5. The winding device as claimed in claim 4, wherein said winding rod unit further includes a sliding tube that is sleeved loosely on said rotating rod.
 6. The winding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gear wheel unit further includes a connecting tube that is sleeved on said sleeving tube portion of said horizontal gear wheel component and that is adapted to be connected to a roller of the window blind.
 7. The winding device as claimed in claim 6, wherein an end portion of said sleeving axle of said seat unit has at least two pinching arms that are vertically spaced apart from each other, an outer surface of each pinching arm being formed with a depression to thereby form a pair of horizontally opposing shoulders on said outer surface of said pinching arm, said connecting tube being formed with a ring protrusion protruding radially inwardly from an inner surface of said connecting tube and received in said depressions to thereby abut against said shoulders of each of said pinching arms.
 8. The winding device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said outer surface of an extreme end of each of said pinching arms is slanted to thereby form a slanted surface.
 9. The winding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gear wheel unit further includes a sliding ring that is sleeved on said sleeving axle of said seat unit and that is interposed between said sleeving axle and said sleeving tube portion of said horizontal gearwheel component.
 10. The winding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vertical wheel portion of said vertical gear wheel component and said horizontal wheel portion of said horizontal gear wheel component are bevel gears. 